Watering cannabis plants in soil is crucial for healthy growth and high yields. To avoid nutrient shortages and plant illness, it is essential to understand when and how much water to use. Cannabis plants are primarily composed of water, which is 80-95 H₂O. To ensure proper watering, check the soil for dryness and adjust the watering amount as needed.
There are various options available when it comes to growing media, each providing varying levels of moisture retention and drainage. For a 1L pot, give 0.25L of water in each watering, while for a 4L pot, give 1L of water with each watering.
The best way to water cannabis depends on where your plants grow, whether in soil or hydroponic substrates like rockwool, clay pebbles, coco coir, and more. Cannabis also needs water with a specific pH level, aiming for 6 to 7, ideally 6.5 when growing in soil. The key to good soil for cannabis plants is to balance moisture retention with water drainage.
For container-grown cannabis plants, water every 2-3 days, while plants grown in soil will often need water at least once a day or more. Water slowly, using no more than a quart at a time, and pausing often to let the soil suck air in behind the pot.
Using a bare finger, check the soil for dryness and dampness. Water about five to 10 percent of the soil volume in a 7 gallon pot, aiming for 2-3 days in soil. If pots take 4-5+ days to dry out before the next watering, you may need to give less water at a slower rate.
In summary, proper watering of cannabis plants is essential for healthy growth and high yields. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your plants receive the necessary water to thrive and thrive.
📹 How To Properly Water Autos: Over Watering & Under Watering Your Plants
Do you find yourself overwatering or underwatering your autos? Are you confused about when you should water and how much?
How many cups of water do you need for a marijuana plant?
In order to water marijuana plants indoors, it is first necessary to determine the volume of the plant by calculating the volume of liquid that is required for complete irrigation. For a 4-liter pot, the optimal watering volume is 1 liter, as the liquid volume is ¼ of the pot’s volume.
Should I use nutrients every time I water?
In coco, giving nutrients every watering can help plants grow faster and prevent nutrient deficiencies. However, it’s important not to overdo it, as it can cause nutrient burn, which can result in burnt or brown leaf tips. If giving nutrients every other watering, the recommended dose should be half, while if giving nutrients every watering, the full dose may be given. Nutrient burn can be identified by burnt tips on leaves, nitrogen deficiency, and other nutrient deficiencies caused by too-low pH at the roots. It’s crucial to start at half the recommended dose and adjust the schedule accordingly.
How long can nutrient water sit?
To nourish the plants, a nutrient solution should be prepared and the unused solution discarded after a period of 7-10 days. Prior to irrigation, it is advisable to ascertain the pH level to guarantee that it remains within the optimal range. It is important to note that the addition of certain supplements may result in an increase in the total EC/PPMs. Therefore, it is advisable to carefully review the labels for the NPKs of the supplements in question or to utilize a nutrient calculator in order to ascertain the estimated PPM ranges. It is important to understand the composition of the soil in your garden by checking the levels of organic matter and minerals.
How much water does it take to flush a marijuana plant?
To flush your marijuana plants, start by giving them a thorough watering with clean, pH-balanced water. Use two to three times the usual volume of water and allow it to flow through the growing medium, carrying away accumulated salts and nutrients. Repeat this process every few days to ensure the soil remains moist but not overly saturated. Flushing enhances the natural flavors and aromas of the final product, reduces harshness associated with improperly cured buds, and produces cleaner, more vibrant, and highly potent buds.
Is flushing necessary in soil?
Flushing plants involves flooding them with water to remove excess nutrients and wash the soil. This process is essential for indoor growers to maintain plant health and yield. Flushing plants with plain water or distilled water is common, but pH-balanced water is preferred when the pH is unbalanced or the plant is experiencing nutrient lockout. Overwatering is done by allowing excess water to drain from the bottom hole, bringing extra nutrients from the soil. Flushing plants is beneficial for dealing with problems, improving yield, and maintaining plant health.
What is the best method of watering?
Drip irrigation is a water-efficient method for irrigating various plants, especially in clay soils, as it allows the soil to absorb water and avoid runoff. Point source drip systems consist of drip tubing laid throughout a planting bed, feeding water directly to the plant’s base without losing water to misting, overspray, or runoff. Different types of drip equipment, such as drippers, bubblers, soakers (inline emitters), and micro-sprayers, can be customized to meet each plant’s needs. However, it is important not to mix different equipment in the same zone or distribution line, as this can lead to water loss.
Traditional automatic spray systems, such as pop-up spray heads, are less efficient than rotor heads or drip systems due to their faster water application. To ensure uniform distribution of water, all heads should be of the same type and manufactured.
Rotor systems are generally more efficient than spray heads, as they apply water at a slower rate, allowing the soil to absorb moisture more efficiently. New rotors are specifically designed to apply water at less than half-an-inch per hour and with a radius of less than 15 feet, and their application patterns and radius can conform to odd-shaped areas.
Should I spray during flowering?
The use of foliar sprays is not advised for cannabis plants during the flowering stage, as they have been shown to increase the risk of mold or mildew development. In the event that such measures are deemed necessary, it is recommended that the lights be kept off, a low temperature be maintained, and the flowers be monitored. The absorption of nutrients by plants is more rapid through the lower surface of the leaves than through the roots and stem. Foliar sprays are typically less concentrated than soil fertilizers.
What is proper humidity for marijuana?
Boveda is a cannabis storage solution that adjusts humidity based on temperature changes, but it is essential to keep cannabis away from high temperatures to prevent decarboxylation or activation of cannabinoids. The ideal humidity for cannabis storage is between 55 and 65 degrees Celsius, with the outside environment playing a secondary role. While Boveda effectively removes excess moisture, growers should still dry buds using traditional methods. When buds feel close to their target moisture content, Boveda can help adjust the RH to the proper range for cannabis. If overdrying occurs, Boveda can restore the bud back to its ideal state.
How many cups of water should I give my plant?
To maintain a healthy planter, water up to one-fourth or one-third of the planter’s volume, especially for those without a drainage hole. For those with a hole, water until excess water drains out of the bottom. Allow the water to sit in the saucer or cache pot for 15-30 minutes to soak up the roots before discarding it. Overwatering can cause plants to drown, while consistently dry soil can lead to underwatering.
To avoid this, be flexible in your plant care habits and avoid a strict watering schedule. Instead, use the day to check in on your plants and water only those that need it. This will help prevent overwatering and ensure the health of your plant.
What is the best watering method for marijuana?
Watering cannabis is essential for its health, and recommended methods include bottom watering, drip irrigation, and hand watering with a gentle stream. Bottom watering provides water directly to the root zone, promoting robust root development and preventing fungal issues. Spraying, or foliar feeding, applies a fine mist of water directly onto leaves, serving as a supplemental technique for nutrient absorption and is often preferred during the germination phase.
Should I feed every time I water?
When growing plants in a drain-to-waste setup, it is recommended to feed with every watering, as this can cause plant stress. The frequency of watering depends on factors such as container size, grow room temperature, and humidity. Start by watering once daily and observe the coco’s moisture for a few days. If large containers don’t dry out as quickly, watering may be possible every other day. Water until a generous amount of runoff is achieved.
It’s not recommended to let the coco dry completely between irrigations. Plants respond better to a constant level of moisture. If the substrate mixture contains perlite, overwatering shouldn’t be a threat, so water on days when the coco has only slightly dried. However, this “back-and-forth” between moist and dry conditions can be stressful on plant roots, negatively impacting beneficial microbe populations and increasing the chance for harmful organisms to take over.
📹 Watering Cannabis Plants
Join our new Discord Community Server: https://discord.gg/dqDUKGdBXg We have lots to discuss….. Free Merch, Discounts …
Here’s how I fixed my watering issue… I am a blind person, I got sick of lifting up the pot and filling the bottom of the cloth pot, or sticking my finger in the soil which is not dependable… I went to my local lumberyard and bought a wooden dowel Rod about the size of my pinky… I made myself a dipstick, for my 5 gallon cloth pot… I shove it down into the grow medium I count to one minute pull the rod out if it’s wet no need to water, but if the dowel rod comes out completely dry from the bottom to the top then I water… After a day or two… my auto flower is massive… my growing medium is 70% cocoa loco bushmaster, 20% Pete Maas, 10% extra perlite… with extra dry amendments which is when I got my pot almost completely full is when I throw in the extra amendments, 4 tablespoons Bat shit, 4 tablespoons seabird shit, 5 tablespoons alfalfa meal, 5 tablespoons kelp meal, 10 tablespoons fish bone meal, 10 tablespoons oyster shell, 5 tablespoons Azamite, mixed in The top part of the pot… Plus before I transplant I use mycorrhiza from extreme gardens… but after using the dowel rod my watering issue disappeared and my plants are now like I said massive give it a try if you don’t believe me buy yourself a wooden dowel rod stick it down into your growing medium weight for a minute or two pull it out and you’ll see for yourself when you have to water or not it’s guaranteed take it from a blind person… 🤨😎
I love when you admitted you make watering mistakes still to this day. I’ve been growing since 1992 and a been growing Autos since the joint doctor came out with lowryder. It’s nice to always keep an open mind and still learn things. I still make mistakes too LOL thanks for making this article very helpful.
Got four blueberry autos, and they are dialed in better than I ever did, yes the watering was a problem for some time….all plants in 3 gallon, and they are five feet tall, and buds are amazing..I feel the stocks, when they are soft and bend easy, to much water, or better said enough….when they are hard as rock, time for water…my strange way that works….thank you, your another that’s helped me learn, still lots to learn and love it…
I just watched your interview on Garden Talk about Autoflowers and I really agreed with your techniques and philosophy to succeed. This article was great because it confirms my belief that over-watering may be the greatest threat for novice growers. However, you provide useful and easy steps to minimize the risk, I’m subscribed and exited to check out more. Thanks!
Awesome article. You may have saved my grow. Your explanation of a topic that I thought was so simple, showed me I should rethink my watering methods. I’ve been struggling with problems I assumed we’re more complex than simple watering. After your article I took my moisture meter and checked pots I thought were sufficiently watered. I was so wrong. Every pot showed dry when the probe went deep in the pot. Your description of the leaves, and the difference between over and under watering was what tipped me off. Your comment about slowly watering like a light rain. Wow!.I feel so stupid. I thought because water had come out the bottom that I had soaked the pot thoroughly. Not according to my moisture meter. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to my faulty watering technique.
Thank you for sharing. I just discovered you, so I guess I’ll be spending the day browsing your great content. I’m a newbie. My first grow is in progress now. I wonder if I am an over protective dad. I have two 6 week old bag seed photos growing and 1 Blue Amnesia auto starting week 5. All are in fabric pots in soil in a 2×4 tent. I’ve been wondering if I am watering enough due to fear of over watering, now I know I am not. Thanks for the help!
Hey your style of explaining is perfect for novices like myself. I’m 47 and NY just legalized growing cannabis in 6 plant batches🪴. I bought 6 auto flowering seeds for growers choice. Only one didn’t germinate but GC refunded me. Being my first grow I had the lights way to far away for the first 2 that I experimented on first and they stretched. The other 3 I planted after I dialed in the distance between the tops of plants . The other difference is I planted the first 2 in their final 7 flgallon pots so I don’t know if I over watered or under watered? 👍 and subbed instantly!!! Any way I could send you pictures of these 2 1 month old plants that are struggling? I just want to keep them alive. If you saw them I bet you could tell if they’re under or over watered. The leaves aren’t droopy so I’m thinking under watered??
I got a GDP photo. In a 10 gallon fabric pots I do believe I overwatered a little bit started smelling something funny but what I did was took a fan and stuck it literally right next to the fabric pot and then I worked my hands through probably the top three inches of soil really well all the way around the plant to loosen it up to get it dry. Seems to be doing good now the auto blueberry from Dutch Passion that I dropped the top inch-and-a-half of soil is dry pretty far out from the plant so I watered she seemed fine this morning. Definitely going to try to keep the soil moist
Hi there, glad I found you, I love autos, and I made all the mistakes in the books last two years, then I followed two guys I liked and listened carefully and now I got plants that are finally looking like those on the web, still much to learn, so here I am to learn sir, and thank you…so much for your knowledge…..oh by the way I seen you interviewed by one of the people I mentioned….
You guys should read into Vegetative vs Generative growth. Watering is one of the ways we can steer our crop for either generative or vegetative growth. Basic principles being: Being more generous with water @ lower EC = vegetative growth. Running plants dryer and having a higher EC when feeding = generative (flowering growth).
When did u start doing articles? Man ive just been keeping uo with the podcast. Thanks for the contenet! Another tip: seems counter intuitive but poking holes in your medium with a wire hanger or something similar will hell the medium dry out and believe it or not will not damage roots. Actually encourages the roots to grow more. Can also inoculate your media if you say forget to add your mycos earlier, you can poke holes down to the roots and sort poor your mycos down directly to the roots.
Saw advice on one website that specified to water 5% of pot (soil) volume daily and see how the plant reacts. Every 3rd feed give a plain water feed of 10% to help use up any left over salts. Watch how the plant reacts and adjust accordingly. Also water around outside of the pot, let the water saturate the centre at its own pace.
its amazing i have been growing for about 20 years only about 10 indoors i have tried all kinds of stuff.. & 3 gal just on a photoperiod make bigger buds.. it has always amazed me all that extra dirt and it just looks for roots… seedlings you have two water them alot.. but once they go in a pot.. 1 time a week. and then recharge flush…..its also tuff when you grow diffent strains some times plants need diffent water times.. so it is an issue always more often than not,,,, bigger the roots bigger the fruits…
Good info. The algorithm found me, this month I had a moisture issue when up-potting from 3gal to 7gal, cloth ac infinity pots, was getting stagnant water at the bottom of the pot because i had the pot sitting directly on the floor and it was not getting air. I elevated the pot and things really cleared up and I could water normally again. It was weird though, it creeped up on me, leaves started looking weird, spots in random places, curling down tips, I defoliated a lot and its finally finishing up, but I wish I had known i was overwatering. Has anyone ever used one of those moisture meters from amazon to measure when to water again?
I like to use the green spun glass filters for AC filters cut to the size of the pot then split the filter in half. Then cut for the plant to fit between the two cuts Helps keep moisture in and not let top dry out so fast what I do find that the roots tend to reach for the top on the soil. But it works for me
Lately after deciding on pot (5gal) and mix (recipe 420 + 25% p/lite) I set one pot up for planting and determine how much water it takes to completely wet all the mix. 5 gallon square ac grow bag + 4 gallons mix = 1 liter water per gallon. So 2 liters is watering 1/2 way down the bag etc. I got tired of guessing. Same with spray bottles people say 15 or 20 squirts well I measured 15 sprays was 8 ml and wet the mix about the size of a golf ball. Getting info from different websites I get a little mixed up auto/photo or soil/hydro. Thanks for posting. My first visit to your website and your latest new subscriber…firehat+420
I water seedlings from top. After during veg I water from the bottom. Then last couple weeks of flower I water from the top. I think watering from the top can lead to soil compaction. I let the plant wick up what it can from the bottom most of the time. I feel my plants end up slightly under watered. I see some drupe sometimes. Which might actually make them a little better.
I had a question if you didn’t mind. I know it’s hard to say based on pot size and environment but what is the average you would say you watered the autos right when they sprout to about 2 weeks? Like once every other day etc. I’m using 3 gallon fabric pots about to start a grow but don’t want to over water. I live in a dry environment
Hi thanks for the article. Whats your approach to the startup watering in a big pot. (The first 2 weeks of the grow) btw if you nutrients has a wetting agent. You can easy just poor all the water in at once. I did a run with only connoisseur bloom from advance nutrients (kiss method). My best run so far. Healthy all through the grow. And just love that you don’t have to deal with pH. It’s saves some time and headache ☺️
I’m gonna say something here now when running hydroponics it gets watered every 3 hours when your doing ebb and flow your roots are being kept wet there whole life . And 1 more thing if you have packed hard dirt that’s just bad the water can’t drain out but with super dirt in 2 to 3 second’s 90% of all my water is in the try just like every time I give the plants water it’s a 33 part fertilizer mix
This some good info but would have loved some actual pictures and stuff to base off. My issue is how much to water and like not just the amount but where to put the water? Mine have been sprouted for 2 weeks now. I came across this article because I just watered for first time in a week. And seemed like the leaves dropped a little right after I watered like within mins
I know it could be my inexperience, but could genetics be a reason why one Critical+ is 30″ tall and the other has stopped at 12″? It hasn’t grown in 1.5 weeks and has started to flower. Everything is planted in 5 gallon pots, and everything else is at least twice the size. I also get a lot of rain, so it could be from over watering
As you water the plant if you have time and you take a second,You can hear it drinking the water. After you hear the sucking sound like a straw stop. you can water again a little bit and listen for it again. But if you have a few fans going that might be hard. I grow in a greenhouse after seeding stage. Good Luck everybody. 🤞🏽
Good article…I grow in organic living soil n follow Buildasoil’s advise on 5-10% water by volume daily…my 15 gallon pots get .6 gallons 2-3days on one day off…been working fantastic this run. Also, I overlooked 30% aeration my 1st run n I use lava rocks n rice hulls n they make a huge difference in the soil consistency. 💯 need them to make ur soil fluffy. Slow watering is best, I go back n forth with my pots, give them time to soak it up. The girls love it…less bugs
what pisses me off is how soil companies don’t compost their soils long enough, getting tired of opening a bag only to find its mostly chucks of un-composted wood chips!. damn soil is so course and woody that it all floats when you water it, and doesn’t really give any real ballast to hold your roots in place!. got around that by covering the top of the soil with glass marbles, this holds the soil in place and keeps your plants from tipping over!. your talking about run off the way I do it is pour in a couple of glasses of water, then let it get sucked back up by the plant and repeat until you have water about to over flow your fabric pot saucer!. if you don’t know you should try using cloth grow pots, they allow your roots to grow straight out to the sides where the ends get pruned by light as they grow through the fabric of the pot. this keeps them from growing in a circle inside a plastic pot and causing root bound plants!